Chapter 94: So What’s The New Plan?
The silence continued for a moment after Durmon asked that rattling question. Wolfgar and the Head Kingdom Ranger maintained a glare down for a while, both secretly contending for the leadership of this mission.
Kingdom Rangers were not all fond of Awakeners.
This was because many of them were people who the Great Seers had predicted could awaken but ended up not doing so. Others were Awakeners who fell in the Dull Rank and ended up leaving the Academy. The rest were normal, trained people.
Because of this, there was no love lost between Kingdom Rangers and the Awakeners. Be it jealousy or whatever reason, in the end, the Rangers always felt justified in their dislike of the Awakeners.
No matter whatever they did, it was always the Awakeners who ended up taking the glory. Their powerful display of magic always overshadowed the hardwood of the Rangers.
Today, it seemed like the same thing was happening again.
Wolfgar, aware of this hatred, looked away from Durmon and to the Brigade Commander, Thornson.
"Your update report has shown just how dangerous this mission is, Thornson," Professor Wolfgar said. His voice was toned to be lower and softer as he attempted to halt the icy panic that was spreading in the tent.
He returned his gaze to Durmon.
"And yes, my students will handle it."
Durmon looked at him with jaws tentatively set.
"But if you are not convinced enough, Head Ranger, then allow me to present to you our secret weapon."
Durmon raised a brow.
Wolfgar stood still and said, "Lancet, step forward."
Every one of the students turned to Lancet whose eyes were wide like he’d been caught off guard.
Lancet had expected Wolfgar to point to Vernon or Renan. He didn’t think at all that Wolfgar considered him his secret weapon. Maybe their talk was actually very productive.
The vanguard moved out of their way and Lancet walked past their shoulders, stepping through the space made in the center and presenting himself in front of the holographic emitter.
Head Ranger Durmon looked the First-Year up and down. He was impressed by the golden armor but his eyes lingered more on Lancet’s youthful, unassuming face.
Durmon scoffed. "He looks just like an ordinary boy to me."
"Looks can be deceiving," Wolfgar stated flatly. He and Lancet exchanged a look before he gave the Architect a nod. "Call them, Lancet. It’s time to begin the raid."
Lancet returned his gaze forward, feeling the eyes of every seasoned soldier and elite Awakener in the tent drilling into him. He looked at the Brigade Commander and the Head Ranger who were both gawking at him like he was a fake magician who was about to prove the legitimacy of his magic.
"You all might want to close your eyes and cover your ears," he warned quietly. "Things might get a little loud."
A few of the soldiers exchanged confused glances, but a couple of the younger Rangers instinctively raised their hands to their helmets.
Lancet closed his eyes and tapped into his soul core. "Summon."
CRACK! SLAMM!!!
A deafening bolt of blue lightning ruptured the air inside the tent, striking the ground simultaneously with a blinding, concussive pillar of holy golden light.
The light and atmospheric pressure from both explosions blew several physical maps off the tables and caused everyone who had hesitated before, to cover their eyes.
As the ozone settled and the blinding radiance faded, two figures stood materialized between Lancet and the military commanders.
Thor and Astensia stood in front of Lancet.
Thor, remembering the recent encounter, lowered her eyes to find Lancet, blue static still dancing across her crown. Lancet had hoped she would be softer now but he could still see the displeasure from their earlier argument still simmering in her silver-blue eyes.
Astensia, however, gave Lancet a soft, questioning look, using her blue eyes to check if he was alright.
Lancet smiled a strained smile. Now reassured, Astensia smiled back, their earlier kiss a topic in the air and their minds.
Commander Thornson, recovering his balance, quickly looked up at the roof of the tent, worried the lightning had blown a hole right through their command center.
Thankfully, it was completely intact. He slowly lowered his gaze to the two figures whose backs were facing him.
"Who... who are those?" Head Ranger Durmon asked, his voice seemingly high-pitched all of a sudden.
Astensia and Thor turned around to face the war table.
Instantly, every single Brigadier and Kingdom Ranger in the tent froze. Their eyes widened to impossible proportions. Jaws literally dropped.
More than just the overwhelming aura of the two Platinum Awakeners, it was the honor the two women had as legends that left everyone dumbfounded, weighed down by their presence.
They had seen those faces before. The Battery of Brutality and the Ironwill of Mortality. Their faces were shown in history books and displayed in statues all over the world.
Were they really here?
"Are my eyes deceiving me?" a Brigade lieutenant whispered with a trembling voice
"What the hell..." Commander Thornson choked out, his pupils dilated.
Durmon just stared.
"That’s... that’s Thor Stormchild," a Ranger breathed, taking a staggering step back. "And Astensia of the North. But they’re... they’re supposed to be dead."
"Supposed to?" a Brigadier gasped. "They are dead! They’ve been dead for over a century! These must be spirits! Some kind of hallucination caused by the Demons’ miasma!"
"Stop with your prattling!" Wolfgar barked, folding his arms proudly. "These are two of the greatest Awakeners from the Era of Ash, brought forth in the flesh! They are not ghosts. They are not spirits. They are real."
Head Ranger Durmon slowly raised a shaking finger, pointing past the two towering legends directly at the First-Year Summoner, Lancet. "So... this boy. This boy can summon them? He can summon the legends of the past?"
"Something like that," Wolfgar replied cryptically.
"How is that possible?"
"Just what kind of power is that?"
"Enough with the mindless chatter," Thor interrupted, the natural authority in her voice causing everyone to listen instantly.
She stepped right up to the edge of the holographic table, ignoring the Head Ranger who flinched when she got close. "Let us move on to why we are actually here."
Thor walked around the glowing blue-and-red projection, her electric eyes scanning the digital topography. "This new world and its strange technology... is this presently how the town looks?"
"Y-yes, Lady Stormchild," Head Ranger Durmon stammered, frantically straightening his posture to salute a woman who outranked him by a hundred years.
"Lady Stormchild?" Thor made a disgusted face. "What am I, a princess? My name is Thor."
"Of course!" Durmon immediately replied. "I apologize... Thor."
Astensia walked toward the map, the light of the hologram reflecting on her armor. "Unbelievable. The Demon Break is spreading incredibly fast. At this rate, they will reach the civilian’s hiding place."
"But we won’t let that happen," Wolfgar said. "Right? That’s why you two are here."
Astensia shared a look with the professor. "Certainly. You are right, Mister Wolfgar."
Durmon and Thornson just stared in shock, unable to believe how casually this ordinary professor was speaking to a legend from the Era of Ash.
Astensia turned to the both of them. "We came up with a new evacuation strategy. The current strategy you sent to Mr. Wolfgar is flawed. If you rely on the Merchant’s Gate as a bottleneck, the Demons will simply tunnel beneath you to reach the civilians in the Chapel."
Wolfgar nodded. "That’s true."
Durmon and Thornson looked at each other, then back at the vanguard. "So what’s the new plan?"